Nate Silver on Scottish independence: 'There's virtually no chance'

The campaign for Scottish independence has "virtually no chance" of success, according to one of the most influential pollsters in the world.

Nate Silver, who humiliated political pundits in the US by predicting the correct outcome in all 50 states in the 2012 presidential elections, said only a "major crisis" in England could reverse the trend in the polls before Scotland votes in September next year.

"There's virtually no chance that the Yes side will win," he told the Scotsman.

"If you look at the polls, it's pretty definitive really where the No side is at 60-55% and Yes side is about 40 or so.